VOLONNE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Volonne, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

The VOLONNE wastewater treatment plant is located in the commune of Volonne, within the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. The plant serves a population of about 2,100 residents and operates under the French regulatory framework, which implements the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). As a small agglomeration, the plant is required to provide appropriate treatment to protect the local environment. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. Its designed capacity is 3,150 cubic meters per day, and the reported discharge volume is 374.81 cubic meters per day, indicating operational capacity well within design limits. The facility is situated inland, more than 50 kilometers from the coast, reducing direct marine impact. Treated effluent from the plant is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Durance River, a major tributary of the Rhône River. The Rhône flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the Durance River and downstream ecosystems from pollution, supporting water quality for aquatic life and human uses.

The plant discharges into the Durance River basin, a major tributary of the Rhône River, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The Durance supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is important for regional water supply and agriculture. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollution, safeguarding water quality in this sensitive Mediterranean watershed.